Post by SydT on May 8, 2009 6:32:09 GMT -5
I came across some interesting articles on the internet that suggest that a low dose of mifepristone (5mg) also known as the abortion pill, can shrink fibroids up to 50%......
Mifepristone for treatment of uterine leiomyoma. A prospective randomized placebo controlled trial.Engman M, Granberg S, Williams AR, Meng CX, Lalitkumar PG, Gemzell-Danielsson K.
Department of Woman and Child Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
BACKGROUND Uterine leiomyomas are widely prevalent and frequently cause menorrhagia. The major therapeutic option today is hysterectomy. Medical options are of highest interest. METHODS A total of 30 women with uterine leiomyomas scheduled for surgical intervention were randomized to receive either 50 mg mifepristone or placebo every other day during 3 months prior to surgery. Uterine blood flow and leiomyoma volume were evaluated once a month until surgery. Endometrial biopsies were obtained prior to and at end of treatment. Relevant biochemistry, symptoms and bleeding were recorded. Primary outcome was reduction in uterine leiomyoma size. RESULTS There was a significant percentual decrease (P = 0.021) in the total leiomyoma volume in the mifepristone-treated group, -28 (-48, -8) % (mean +/- 0, 95 confidence interval), compared with the control group values 6 (-13, 25) %. Mifepristone treatment significantly reduced the bleeding days (P = 0.001) and increased serum haemoglobin values (P = 0.046). Serum cortisol levels remained unchanged, while a mild increase in serum androgens was noted. Endometrial biopsies showed no premalignant changes or changes in mitotic indices. CONCLUSION Mifepristone may offer an effective treatment option for women with uterine leiomyoma and the associated pronounced uterogirl thingyl bleeding. Clinical Trials identifier: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00579475.
PMID: 19389793 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Low-Dose Mifepristone Shrinks Fibroids, Curbs Symptoms
A DGReview of :"Low-dose mifepristone for uterine leiomyomata"
Obstetrics & Gynecology
04/02/2003
By Anne MacLennan
Comparable results in shrinking uterine fibroids and improving symptoms have been found when using either 5 or 10 mg doses of mifepristone, researchers in the United States have found.
Postmenopausal women have few side effects from either of these dosages, and the investigators suggest that research is now needed to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of low-dose mifepristone.
Dr S H Eisinger and colleagues from the University of Rochester, New York, compared the effect of the two low doses of mifepristone on uterine leiomyoma size and symptoms, as well as any side effects.
In the open-label study, 40 premenopausal women with large, symptomatic leiomyomata were randomised to receive either 5 or 10 mg of the drug, daily for six months.
Uterine volume was measured at bimonthly intervals by sonography. Serum concentrations of haemoglobin levels, follicle-stimulating hormone and liver enzymes were obtained and endometrial samples, symptoms and menstrual bleeding were assessed.
Overall, 19 of 20 women taking 5 mg of mifepristone and all 20 of those taking 10 mg completed the entire six months of the study.
Mean uterine volume shrank by 48% in the 5-mg group and by 49% in the 10-mg group, a difference that was not significant. In both groups, leiomyoma-related symptoms were also comparably reduced.
Amenorrhoea occurred in 60% to 65% of both groups, and haemoglobin levels increased by 2.5 g/dL in anaemic subjects.
Incidence of hot flashes increased significantly over baseline in the 10-mg group but not in the 5-mg group.
Simple endometrial hyperplasia occurred in 28% of all of the women in the study, but there was no difference between groups in this, and no atypical hyperplasia was noted.
Obstet Gynecol 2003 Feb;101:2:243-50. "Low-dose mifepristone for uterine leiomyomata"
Mifepristone for treatment of uterine leiomyoma. A prospective randomized placebo controlled trial.Engman M, Granberg S, Williams AR, Meng CX, Lalitkumar PG, Gemzell-Danielsson K.
Department of Woman and Child Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
BACKGROUND Uterine leiomyomas are widely prevalent and frequently cause menorrhagia. The major therapeutic option today is hysterectomy. Medical options are of highest interest. METHODS A total of 30 women with uterine leiomyomas scheduled for surgical intervention were randomized to receive either 50 mg mifepristone or placebo every other day during 3 months prior to surgery. Uterine blood flow and leiomyoma volume were evaluated once a month until surgery. Endometrial biopsies were obtained prior to and at end of treatment. Relevant biochemistry, symptoms and bleeding were recorded. Primary outcome was reduction in uterine leiomyoma size. RESULTS There was a significant percentual decrease (P = 0.021) in the total leiomyoma volume in the mifepristone-treated group, -28 (-48, -8) % (mean +/- 0, 95 confidence interval), compared with the control group values 6 (-13, 25) %. Mifepristone treatment significantly reduced the bleeding days (P = 0.001) and increased serum haemoglobin values (P = 0.046). Serum cortisol levels remained unchanged, while a mild increase in serum androgens was noted. Endometrial biopsies showed no premalignant changes or changes in mitotic indices. CONCLUSION Mifepristone may offer an effective treatment option for women with uterine leiomyoma and the associated pronounced uterogirl thingyl bleeding. Clinical Trials identifier: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00579475.
PMID: 19389793 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Low-Dose Mifepristone Shrinks Fibroids, Curbs Symptoms
A DGReview of :"Low-dose mifepristone for uterine leiomyomata"
Obstetrics & Gynecology
04/02/2003
By Anne MacLennan
Comparable results in shrinking uterine fibroids and improving symptoms have been found when using either 5 or 10 mg doses of mifepristone, researchers in the United States have found.
Postmenopausal women have few side effects from either of these dosages, and the investigators suggest that research is now needed to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of low-dose mifepristone.
Dr S H Eisinger and colleagues from the University of Rochester, New York, compared the effect of the two low doses of mifepristone on uterine leiomyoma size and symptoms, as well as any side effects.
In the open-label study, 40 premenopausal women with large, symptomatic leiomyomata were randomised to receive either 5 or 10 mg of the drug, daily for six months.
Uterine volume was measured at bimonthly intervals by sonography. Serum concentrations of haemoglobin levels, follicle-stimulating hormone and liver enzymes were obtained and endometrial samples, symptoms and menstrual bleeding were assessed.
Overall, 19 of 20 women taking 5 mg of mifepristone and all 20 of those taking 10 mg completed the entire six months of the study.
Mean uterine volume shrank by 48% in the 5-mg group and by 49% in the 10-mg group, a difference that was not significant. In both groups, leiomyoma-related symptoms were also comparably reduced.
Amenorrhoea occurred in 60% to 65% of both groups, and haemoglobin levels increased by 2.5 g/dL in anaemic subjects.
Incidence of hot flashes increased significantly over baseline in the 10-mg group but not in the 5-mg group.
Simple endometrial hyperplasia occurred in 28% of all of the women in the study, but there was no difference between groups in this, and no atypical hyperplasia was noted.
Obstet Gynecol 2003 Feb;101:2:243-50. "Low-dose mifepristone for uterine leiomyomata"